John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 195: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason 1.5 million sharks have been allowed to be killed off Irish waters in the past decade by mostly foreign fishermen; if his attention has been drawn to fishing practices (details supplied); if he encourages such practices; the measures he intends to take to prohibit such practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8607/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The issues raised by the Deputy relate to a recent report entitled "A preliminary investigation on Shelf Edge and Deepwater Fixed Net Fisheries to the West and North of Great Britain, Ireland, around Rockall and Hatton Bank". This report was compiled by representatives of eight fisheries agencies, including Ireland's Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara as well as representatives from the UK and Norway. The report states that this is a gillnet fishery of up to 50 vessels with a high incidence of "ghost fishing" by unattended or discarded nets on the seabed.

This important report is under consideration by my Department. The occurrence of so-called "ghost-fishing" is in my view a cause for concern and requires remedial attention. During its EU Presidency, Ireland made it a priority to press for more environmentally-friendly fishing methods and I am pleased to say that Ireland succeeded in achieving the adoption of Council conclusions on this important subject. These conclusions were agreed in June 2004 and include provision for the European Commission to develop a pilot project to address the problem of ghost fishing in Community waters, including a retrieval system to remove lost gear. I anticipate progress on this issue during 2005. Catch limitations for deepwater sharks, the main species targeted by the fishery concerned in the report, were introduced at EU level for the first time for 2005 at the December 2004 Agriculture and Fisheries Council. This decision will contribute to an immediate reduction in mortality.

As many of the deepwater fisheries concerned straddle international waters where non-EU vessels are also fishing, the need for a wider international approach to this problem is an important consideration and in that regard I believe that it is important the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, NEAFC, is fully involved and will hopefully act as a catalyst for remedial management measures in that wider context.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the details of the recorded sea lice levels in the area of salmon farms in Killary Harbour in each of the months from December 2004 to February 2005, inclusive. [8608/05]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the details of the recorded sea lice levels in the area of salmon farms in Bertraghboy Bay in Connemara in each of the months from December 2004 to February 2005, inclusive. [8609/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together.

The Marine Institute carries out a comprehensive programme of monitoring and control of sea lice at marine finfish farms, on behalf of the Department. This entails inspections and sampling, at all sites containing fish, 14 times per annum; twice per month during March, April and May and monthly for the remainder of the year except December and January when only one inspection is carried out. Reports showing the results of this monitoring are published. These reports show that, in the case of the fish farm in Killary Harbour, lice levels for December and January averaged 0.27 ovigerous and 6.48 mobile lice per fish and, for February 0.74 ovigerous and 2.45 mobile lice per fish. No salmon were present in Bertraghboy Bay during the period from December to February.

Approximately 5,000 cod were placed in one cage in Bertraghboy Bay in early February, pursuant to a trial licence. Although cod is not a host for the salmon louse, an inspection of the site was carried out by the Marine Institute on 28 February and no sea lice were present.